How to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 without clean installation

In my office I offered team members for installing Windows 7 on their XP computer and they were more than happy to get it done but only thing they were worried about data and settings. I said no issue we will get it done using file transfer wizard then they said not only settings they need to have lot of software as well and they need to install it again.

As per Microsoft if you have windows XP installed on your computer and if you want to install Windows 7 on your computer you need to make a clean install of Windows 7. I was not happy with this as I do have windows vista and it’s very easy to upgrade from XP to windows vista. Once Windows Vista is installed you do not need to make a clean install for installing Windows 7.

Here is process for same in short.1) Take your backup of all the settings and data using easy migration just for backup purpose2) You can see here how we can do that.3) Now install Windows Vista. I had it so I didn’t bothered for that, if you have a genuine copy of window 7 you can download a 30 day trial version of windows vista from here4) After installing windows vista install windows vista sp1 without that it won’t allow you to install windows 7.5) Once Windows vista sp1 is installed you can go ahead and install windows 7 on this computer.

Things to remember

1) At the time of installation of vista it can give you some message like few of the programs are not supported but it will not affect your installation, do not worry with them you just keep continue, after installing service pack and update of those software that would work fine with windows 7 as well.2) You should have all the required space in your booting drive while installing windows vista and windows 7 at least 16 GB otherwise it would not install.3) Make sure you have backup of everything important from your XP machine. It worked great for me but if you feel any problem I would not be responsible for that.

Biggest Drawback of this process is that it takes hell lot of time for both up gradation at least 4 time of normal installation each. Good thing is that it saves all program and setting untouched including your installed program.